Minesoil Property Effects on the Height of Ten‐Year‐Old White Pine

Torbert, J. L.; Tuladhar, Avalokita; Burger, J. A.; Bell, James

doi:10.2134/jeq1988.00472425001700020004x

Cited by 56 publications

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“…However, given the renewed interest in reforesting mined sites with native hardwoods, we are trying to understand species-specific site limitations and reclamation requirements in order to prescribe reclamation procedures that will allow their use and successful establishment. Our early studies of mine soil effects on the growth of pines (Torbert et al, 1988;Andrews et al, 1998), and our more recent studies on mine soil quality effects on hardwoods (Rodrigue and Burger, 2002a;Rodrigue and Burger, 2002b), show that forest site quality is primarily a function of soil parent material, degree of mine soil compaction, and slope aspect. Given that a selected overburden invariably becomes a substitute for native topsoil on reclaimed sites, its physics, chemistry and biology will largely determine the success of planted trees.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Field Assessment of Mine Site Quality for Establishing Hardwoods in the Appalachians

Burger¹,

Mitchem²

2002

JASMR

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Abstract. In the past five years there has been a major resurgence in the hardwood timber and wood-using industries throughout the Appalachian coalfield region. Major forest companies are investing heavily in the Appalachian hardwood resource, and they are interested in reforestation of mined land with commercially valuable hardwoods. However, post-SMCRA reclamation creates sites that are difficult to reforest due to inappropriate mine spoil chemistry, excessive compaction, and competing ground cover vegetation. A study was installed across the three-state region of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky to test the survival and growth of commercially valuable hardwoods across factorial gradients of mine spoil chemistry, grading intensity, and slope aspect. A total of 10 treatment blocks, each 1 ha in size, were installed over a 3-year period beginning in 1994. Tree survival and growth were measured across the study each year. Green ash survival and growth was relatively unaffected by the site factor gradients, but white oak was influenced by all gradients. Survival and growth was poorest and unacceptable on sites with southwest aspects and soils made up of compacted, finely textured alkaline parent material. Survival and growth of white oak was best on sites with northeastern aspects and loose soils made up of weathered sandstone spoil materials. Site mapping of forest site quality for site-specific species prescriptions appears to be a promising approach for successful reforestation of native hardwoods on mined land. Additional

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Field Assessment of Mine Site Quality for Establishing Hardwoods in the Appalachians

Burger¹,

Mitchem²

2002

JASMR

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“…McFee et al (1981) listed soluble salts as one of the most influential soil properties on Indiana mine soils, especially when levels exceeded 1300 mg kg -1 . Torbert et al (1988) also suggested that levels above 1000 mg kg -1 could affect tree survival and growth. According to the Soil and Plant Analysis Council (1992), 1000 mg kg -1 is considered "moderately saline," where seedlings may be injured and yields of salt-sensitive crops are restricted.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The effects of mine soil selection (Torbert et al, 1988), mine soil compaction (Torbert and Burger, 1996), and tree-compatible ground cover on tree survival and growth were studied and documented. Research findings were used to develop preliminary regional reclamation guidelines for reforestation (Burger and Zipper, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Red Oak Seedling Response to Different Topsoil Substitutes After Five Years

Burger¹,

Mitchem²,

Daniels³

2007

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Abstract:Northern red oak is a valuable commercial species occurring throughout the Appalachian Coalfields Region. It reportedly grows on mined land, but little is known about preferred site and soil conditions for this species on mined land. The purpose of our field study was to test red oak survival and growth rates on a variety of topsoil substitutes. The study is located in Wise Co., Virginia on the Marcum Hollow member of the Upper Wise Formation. The site was mined in 1979 and reclaimed in 1980. In 1981, field plots were constructed with different topsoil substitutes spoil mixes and pitch x loblolly pines were planted in 1983. In 2001 the pines were removed and replaced with red oaks in the winter of [2001][2002]. Four replicate plots of five different mine spoil mixes were planted with nine red oak seedlings each. Mine spoils consisted of different proportions of weathered sandstone and un-weathered siltstone. Tree survival, height and diameter were measured each year for five years. Results show that survival and growth was best on topsoil substitutes consisting of a mix of sandstone and siltstone. Trees survived and grew poorly on plots constructed from either pure sandstone or siltstone. Reasons for the poor oak performance on the high sandstone plots were not clear, but could possibly be related to lower pH and available Ca levels. Poor oak performance on the pure siltstone plots was most likely related to higher rock fragment and lower bulk water holding content.

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“…Different reclamation approaches can result in a wide range afforest site productivity. Across 36 reclaimed sites in Virginia, all of which had 10-year-old white pines, Torbert et al (1988a) found site index (a measure of forest site quality based on predicted heights of trees at age 50) ranging from 35 to 110 ft. Assuming these stands are harvested at age 35, a white pine stand growing on an area with a site index of 110 will yield over 10 times the volume of wood as a stand growing on an area with a site index of 35.…”

Section: Importance Of Productive Mine Soils For Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring Mine Soil Productivity for Forests

Burger¹,

Johnson²,

Andrews³

et al. 1994

ASMR

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The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977 requires that mine operators reclaim mined land to achieve crop productivity levels equal to or greater than premined conditions. The standard for evaluating reforestation success is based solely on tree-seedling survival; however, survival is an estimator of stand density and not an indication of site productivity. The purpose of this study was to develop a model for estimating mine soil productivity based on the capability of growing merchantable timber. Seventy-eight fixed-area plots in Virginia and West Virginia were selected to evaluate the effects of mine soil/site properties on tree growth. These plots ranged from 0.02 to 0.04 ha and consisted of 5-to 9-year-old eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). A 1-m deep pit was dug at the base of one representative tree on each plot to determine rooting depth and physical and chemical properties of the subsurface horizons. The properties most correlated with tree growth were rooting volume, defined as the depth to a restrictive layer, slope percent, soil extractable phosphorus and manganese content, and electrical conductivity. A productivity model was developed based on the premise that limiting soil and site characteristics affect a species' optimum root distribution and thus its aboveground productivity. The developed model was verified using a white pine data set ranging in age from 11 to 15 years that was obtained from 14 reclaimed mines in Virginia. The model was significantly correlated with aboveground biomass and site index. Similar results were observed when predicted productivity estimates and site index values were added separately into established biomass equations.Additional Key Words: reforestation, forest productivity, productivity models, forest site quality. An Argnment for Restoring Forests on Mined LandForest land as a designated postmining land use is gaining in popularity with coal operators in Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia. In Virginia, the Division of Mine Land Reclamation estimates that 80% to 85% of all reclaimed land is in a forest land use. Although hay land/pasture has been the predominant postmining land use in Kentucky, the Division of Field Services of the Kentucky Department of Surface Mining reports that reclamation efforts have been steadily shifting toward the use of trees. Hayland/pasture (like industrial and residential uses) is considered a higher-order land use than forestry; thus, conversion from premining forested conditions to these higher-order land uses is allowable under the provisions of Public Law 95-87 (U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 1988), and is desirable to a degree, in order to diversify the economic base of localities (Zipper 1986).However, most of the hayland/pastureland created as a result of mining is going unused for its intended purpose because it is often in remote areas, is unfenced, and is often too steep to traverse with agricultural equipment. Areas 5 years of age and ol...

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Minesoil Property Effects on the Height of Ten‐Year‐Old White Pine

Cited by 56 publications

References 0 publications

Field Assessment of Mine Site Quality for Establishing Hardwoods in the Appalachians

Field Assessment of Mine Site Quality for Establishing Hardwoods in the Appalachians

Red Oak Seedling Response to Different Topsoil Substitutes After Five Years

Measuring Mine Soil Productivity for Forests

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